Rambling on the Eve of the Eve of Pitchers and Catchers

During the slowest six weeks of the sports year, hearing “pitchers and catchers report today” can warm up the coldest of bodies on a blustery, snow-filled day in the Midwest.

These days players spend half of the winter at their Spring Training homes so reporting has lost some of its luster, but the fact that baseball is less than two months is music to my ears.

So let’s start talking some baseball.

I am enjoying all the love the Cubs system is getting, and everyone seems to be pretty confident Javier Baez is going to be a stud.

I think some of the same people were pretty sure Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson and Bobby Brownlie were going to be studs as well.

I would be stunned if the Cubs drafted a pitcher with the second overall pick. Theo has been pretty clear about it. Let’s start guessing.

It is really too bad the Astros moved Leagues. That would be a good 10 more victories for the Cubs. They are going to be historically bad.

I like the agreement between the Cubs and Northwestern. I think it will be very beneficial for all involved. Northwestern has been trying to advertise itself as “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” for a while. This will help that catch on, if it ever does.

I love how the Cubs offer to pay, the city backs off some restrictions, but then demands a deal with the rooftop owners be completed by a specific date.

I love this City. Just ridiculously delusional. Rahmbo, let’s worry about things that actually matter.

Too bad I can’t draw or else I would enter the contest to create the Wrigley Field 100 Year logo. I could be one of tens of thousands who enter.

That is going to be a lot of work for a few rather unlucky employees.

I have tried to defend Mr. Kenney in the past, but the Cubs lost one of the best Marketing brains in the business for “whatever” reason. I am done. Inexcusable.

Clearly, this was the last straw in a long line of, um, straws for Wally. And I like TR backing him as quickly as he did. I would not be surprised if Crane has a new job sometime soon.

Back to the Minors, I do think, from what I have read, and what he has done, that Baez could be an amazing big leaguer. And wouldn’t that be fun.

Question for the readers: How much time does BJax have left to prove himself? I have to think that he has a little over a year. One more year. If he doesn’t make the team as a starter in 2014, I imagine the Cubs cut bait.